IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) // ^/ .y^/:%' :<' m A y. ^ Va signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbols V signifie "FIN". Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre film^s d des taux de reduction diffdrents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clichd, 11 est filrn^ i partir de I'angle supirieur gauche, de gauche i droite, et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mithode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 32X J c. ••UiEite.'-'*^ ^ ^ 'i-r's; JIOSE-BELFOED'S Canadian Monthly AND NATION AI. REVIEW. MAHCH, 1871>. NEL8(JN AT QUEBEC. .lA^ Kl'ISODK IX THE LU'E OF THE (IIIEAT lililTISH ADMIRAL. \',\ Dlt. UKNRV II. MILKS. [T is worthy of olj.servation that the local history of tlie Capital of Canada furnishes not even an allusion to the visits of England's most re- Jiowned ,sea eaptain, which occurred in tlie year 17i^2. Alreatly noted for distinguished services, regarded, both liy superiors and inferiors in rank, as tiie most |)romising young othcer of the British Navy, and idolized by the lieutenants, middies and tars who .served under him, it might have l>een expected that his advent to C^uebec, and liis stay there of seve-ral weeks' duration, would have attracted consi- derable notice in colonial society, and that the printed r(;cords of the time would have presented souie interesting particulars of that period of the careei' of the illustrious Aduiiral. But such was not the case. We search in vain the cohunns of the Qtiehec Gazetti' — then the only news- paper printed in Canada — for a men tion of this wonderful man's visit, Xot a line do we find announcing the ai'-ival or the departure of ' H. M. frigate Albcmaiie, L'8, Ciqitiiiit /lora/io Xi'Ison : ' nor, later, when the miuds of men tliroughout tlie civili/ed world were stirred l)y the news of his glori ous ooucjuests at .Ihiiuhir and ('ojiri,- lauji'.ii, and of liis crowning victory of Tra/ahjar, where, by the .sacrifice of his valuable life, he put an end, for ever, to tiie menace of a>i invasion of the British Ifsles by the di-sciplined horilesof Xapoleon T.,can we discover, in the numerous and voluminous ac- counts of his early career, wliich were then published, a single allusion to the fact of his having once, perhaps often- er, visited oui' Canadian old city. The omission is all the more rc- markablebecaust; the coming andgoiu" of many military and naval otlicers, who have long since been forgotten, were duly chronicled, during the interval lie tweenthe bi'(,'akingoutof the American revolutionary wai' and the arrival of Prince William Henry, in 1787. We have all the particulars of that Prince's arrival and sojourn in the colony — himself a naval otKcer who served un- 'II- 358 NELSON AT QUHIiEC. .1 I (ler Nelson in the West Indies — but not a word al'Oiit the coming, the stay, or tlie dejiariiire of the greatest Bri- tish Naval hero. It is well known that the news of Ti-afalgar whs received in (Januda with profound emotion, and that the victory was celel)rated — even by the inhabi- tants descended from the people of old France — with rejoicings and boister- ous manifestations of loyalty to the Crown of England. In gratitude for the eminent services rendered by Nelson to the commercial interests of Cireat Britain and her Colonies, the citizens of Montreal erected to his memoiy the fine monument which stands at the top of Jacques Car- tier Square ; but so far as we have observed, the then published ac- counts of his life, and the statements which were made prior to, and on the occasion of, the inauguration of the monument, contained no allusion whatever to the fact that the hero had ever navigated the St. Lawrence, or honoured by his presence the wharves and streets of the ancient ca[)ital of North America. We leave it to the curious in such matters to find out the causes of the omission now adverted to, and to ex- plain why Nelson's visit to and stay in Canada were suffered to pass by in si- lence and neglect. To the industrious researches of a highly esteemed writer,* and to his fer- tile pen, employed by him with ecpial facility in both languages, we are in- debted for the record of a great many historical incidents and local traditions, which are all of an extremely interest- ing nature, and which he has happily rescued from oblivion. This gentle- man has, somewhere in his popular works, given us a list of British mili- tary and naval otiicei's who, during their sojourn in Canada, succumbed to the attractions of Canadian belles whom they espoused and carried oii to preside over and adorn distant *J. M. Lemoine, Esq., author of ' Maple Leaves.' homes in Britain. He does not fur- nish, or even allude to, sundry partic- ulars of whicli we should be delighted to be informed, but enough is intima- ted to satisfy us tliat the young ma- trons, thus transported from the Anglo-French colony, when brought face to face with their new mothers and sistei's, were invariably received with open arms ana the most cordial welcome, because the charming influ- ence of personal beauty, gi-aceful man- neis, and unrestrained warm-hearted- ness, was found to be irresistible. But we venture to express regret that Mr. Lemoine did not see tit to extend his "list a good deal further, and so as to include the names of not a few would- be benedicts who are known to have fallen victims at the shrine of Cana- dian loveliness, but who were hinder- ed by unpropitious circumstances from adding to the interesting record. Had he done so, we should have found IJorutio Nelsuiis name there, probably with exi)lanatory notes, and then the writer of the present article Avould have had no excuse for intruding upon the attention of the readers of this magazine. In fact some very roman- tic incidents are a.ssociated with the visit of the Captain of the Albeiiuirlc. to Quebec, in 1782, which it is the ob- ject of this paper to elucidate. To these, it nuist be confessed, tradition has done justice, but in a manner too ample, since there is a lack of tiie es- sential element of truth in respect of some of the principal particulars. Imnu'diately after the conquest, while Murray was Governor, as well as during the time of his successors, Sir Guy Carleton and General Haldi- mand, there lived at Quebec a family named Prentice, consisting of Milvs Frent ice, iormcr\y a sergeant of Wolfe's army, and his wife. They were child- less, and by permission of the Com- mandant of the garrison, kept a small hostelry, or house of entertainment, on the premises known as ' The Chien d'Or,' situated opposite to the Govern ment quarters on Mountain Hill, ■i whic Loca viou.'' Quell Miles the o whicl Cf^rtai the s ccraii liquor Notoi supplii severe reputei to enf( nian, ai then ii procurt tliirsty was sii flogginr this un soldier'! conditit possible and ign witliin 1 who ha excited curred, tice's ah him wit He, iiov their cli for Nev until th allowed Quebec. In th niitigiitel sent for try, wh( useful ail frequentJ <'ontinue(| in theyel althouijhf r were usuj Prentice. personal time, fori »J. NELSON AT QUEHKV. •l:^\^ not fur- y partic- lelighteil 8 intima- DUllg "lil- ■om the brought mothers received ist cordial ling intlu- 3oful maii- n-hearted- tible. But t that Mr. xtend hib id so as to :ew would- n to have 6 of Cana- ern hinder- :ances from cord. Had lave found •e, probably d then the icle would uding upon ers of this ery roman- with the } Albemarle it is the ob- jidate. To d, tradition manner too k of tlie es- 1 respect of Lculars. conquest, lor, as well successors, neral Haldi- bec a family \ cruelty and ignominy of her punishment, died within a few days. The Highlanders, who had instigated her otFence were excited to madness by what had oc- curred, and rushed in a body to Pren- tice's abode to wreak vengeance upon him with their dirks and claymores. He, however, effected his escape from their clutches, and left the Province for New York, where he remaineil until the departure of that regiment allowed him to return in safety to Quebec. In the meantime his better half, to mitigate the loneliness of her ])Osition, sent for two nieces from the old coun- try, who, having joined her, became useful aids in the business of her well- frequented establishment, which she continued to carry on till her decease in the year 1792. The.se young ladi(!S, although their names were different, were usually styled the 'Mes'leinois/^/fes Prentice.' They were noted for their personal attraction^, and, at the same time, for intelligence and thtur correct exemplary conduct. Ono of thi'iii, in llh i/oir //.svy, was married to Mr. •lames Thompson, .so well known at Queliec as a vi'tcrau of tlie army of (Jeneral Wolfi\ and its last survivor in Canada. ■' Mudame Prenticii's other niece l)ecame tlie wife of ^[r. Lachlan Smitli, the owner of a seigniory, situ- ated below QueiiHc. r>oth lised to a good old age, and died in the Province without ever having revisited their na- tive country. We are thus particular in stating these facts for reasons which will ap- pear presently. It has been asserted that Captain Nelson, of the Albi'ni,trh; during lus sojourn ;it Quebec, in 1782, was a fre- quenter of ALadame Prentice's hostelry, and that he became so violently smit- ten witli the charms of one of her nieces that he proposed for her hand in marriage, iiitending to abandon the nautical profession, along with all his pros|)ects of future promotion in the service of his country. Some colour is given to the statement by what is known of Nelson's temperament and disposition, es|)ecially as exhibited in the course of his earlier career in lif<>. Tiiat he diueboc meirhant, and broth'T of tln' delegate from ('aiiiida to the Jiritish House of I'ommon.^i on the occasic.u when the C'onstitutional Act of 1771 was under discussion in the Impei'inl J.e'dslature. Iteijartled asanuiiterof gossip and hearsay, it will not be jae- tcuded that Mr. Smith "s aulliority is decisive of the (pu'stion at issue ; nor is it pi'obable that his evidence, on such a to])ic, was n:oic reliable than that of any other contemporary resi- dent who chose to listen to rumours circulating in the city. If we recol- lect lightly, Ml'. Smith presented, in his history of Canada, several state- ments unworthy of ci'edit, Via.scd upon mere hearsay, which were disproved bv their very natuic and by subse- (juent evidence. There was, as will be seen, a Quebec merchant who wa.s Nelson's familiar ac(|uaintaiice, and enjoyed his friendship to the last day of his life, to whom, and not to J.ym- liurner, on better testimony than Mr. Smith's, is to lie asciibed the merit of having ))ro\ed an etlicient counsellor on the occasion referred to. Lamar- tine, in his Life of Nelson, gixes an account of the circumstances, without mentioning the name of tlie lieroine, and it was to supjily tliis deficiency that Col. Sewell, citing the authority of Siidth, gave tljat of Miss Prentice. JjinkHitine's account, however, is full of ndstakes. He does not give the yeai' correctly, stating it to have been 17<'^j' hin (ulccnl III CtiiKidd, and of his (lis|)osition. habits and character, as displ.a^'ed when he was a very young man. \^'hen Nelson came to (.Quebec he wai- just ■_' 1 years of age, having been born in September 1758. He had al- ready been in the naval em])loyinent of hiij country 1 1 years, for he entered ' ' it at the early age of i ."l : bnt during tha* comparati\ely siiort time had •* seen more \aried ser\ ice, and alloi' ,n luishi'tl In sliorl, cf oiin l>«' itntrnifnts i-^ vM- sluill ,lo iiutbori- ,f Nflson's ,lis)i()sition. i (lis\)l:>y*''^ num. luiving l>»'»'>' lie hadal- ,.nii>loyment jvliei'utereii ; l.nt (luring l tinii- lm ilmirun ami t nai'i'"" i,,,iiJ Hoot'- •4 Post ('ii|itiiin when (inly '_'!, iinil was soon iit'terwards eni|il()\e([ on very ar- duouH, important and res|)onsilile ser vices. Kor exampit-, wlien, on tlie ai'- rival of Admiral Count d'Kstaing in tlie West Indies with a large Meet and ai'iny, (liei't! was reasun to iippit'licnd the aniuliiliition of Uritish inteicsts in tliat(|mirter, and ef peeially tlie capture ot' Jamaica, tin; I'lnglisli Admiral and (ieneral, who were then in cttmmand on that station, selected (Japtain Nel- son to conduct the defeiH-e of Port Uoyal — this post heing .pistly con sideredthemostim|)ortant onthewln Ic island, as lioing the key to the whole IJritish naval force, the ( 'ity of Kings ion and Spanish 'I'own. Soon aftei- the successf>il terndnation of that ser vice, another, of a much more dillicult nature, and especially hazardous on account of the extreme insaluhrity of tiie climate, was imposftd on him l»y (Jencral Dalling, then < iovernor of the llritish West Indian Colonies, who acted with the appioval of Lord ( leorge (lei'main. Secretary of State for the .Vnierican Department. Its oliject was to ac((uire |)Ossession of Fort San •Juan, on the llio San Juan, which runs from Lake Nicaragua into the Atlantic, and thus after occupying the citi»!S of (Iranada and Leon, to cut the communications of the Spaniards l)etween their Northern and South»>rn transatlantic dominions. Nelson was charged with the command of the considerabhMiaval force employed in this expedition ; and, as hut conH)ara- tively few ti'oups were attached to it. the brunt of the dinger and fatigue fell uj)on the British .seamen and ma- rines, whom their young leader con- ducted towards the intended points of attack with .so much skill, and with such astoiu.shing displays of jiersonal courage and audacity, that thus en- couraged, they easily stormed all the Spanish outposts, and soon forced the panic-struck defenders of the Castle and Town of San Juan to surrender. Ihit, owing to defects in the original plans of the expedition, the arrival at San fluan occurred several months later than it shouhl have ilone, and at the most uidiealtiiy seastju of the year. so that fever set in amongst the sea men ami tnM.ps, Ity which, out of i total of Iji^On people, not more than .■)S() survived. The complement of Nelson's own ship —the lliurliinlinx'i. was •_*()() men, of whom 1 L") found graves there, and, in tin? end. imt more than In Hurvived to return home. Dr. Moseley, the chief medical oHicei iit .lamaica, plac<'d on record the fol lowing I'emarks : ' It was on our San •luan expedition that Nelson com menced his career of glory. He did more than his duty : where anything was to l)t! done, he saw no dilliculties : not contented with having carried the armament safe to the harbour of San •Iiian, he accompanied and a.ssisteil the troops in all their dilliculties. lit; was tirston shore at the attack of (the Spanish outpost) St. Bartholomew, followed by a few brave .seamen and soldiers, in the face of a severe tire. The audacity of the act intimitlated the Spaniards, who, from the nature of the ground, mi'dit have desstroved the assailants; but they abandoned the battery and ran away. By his ex- ample and perseverance, the Indian^ and seamen were animated through their toil in forcing the boats, against the current, up tlie rivei- ; otherwise not a man would have reached San Juan. Whdi they arrived there, as jirompt in thought as liold in action. Nelson advised tht> carrying it in- stantly by a.ssault ; for he knew that the bad season was at hand aiul that there was no time to be lost Like Hannibal, befori' he attained to supreme command in the palmy days of Carthaginian con([uest - like Wolfe (whom Nelson resembled in I'espect of many traits of character), wlu-n a bii- ga'<). In this letter occur the fol- lowing words : ' Unfortunately for the service, he was oblitred to return, lieing appointed to another ship at this islaml. I most humbly entreat that His Majesty will be graciously pleased, through your lordship, to manifest a satisfaction of Captain Nelson's conduct ; anvmivin, , -J'tth, ntvirn, entreat ivcloufily sliij., to ('iH»tain sc tiiivt a tcrmiiKHl , that he , service. , is rather viiidcr my \ one ; as ist (lovout- ernnionts urge this on of his ^1 from the 4 return to d, l7Sl,he lissiou the 8. His in- in tiiis ship er his com- ,s, the Avijo h otiiers as him. 1, in his own upposed that jiiv constitu- whole winter . to the fact practised by iralty, and as icy often pur- t otliceva whose [ merit have ledge laid ujt. He has informed me, that if I were sent to a cold, damp climate, it would make nw worse than evei-. Many of my naval friends have advised me to represent my situation to Adndral Kej)pel, and they have no doubt he would give me other orders, or remove me ; but as I received my orders from Lord Sandwich, I cannot help thinking it wrong to ask IV[r. Keppel to alter them.' On April Oth, in another letter to the same, he says, ' I am very much obliged to you for the great trouble yon liave given yourself, in trying to alter my destination If I can get home in th<^ autumn, I hope I shall get a better ship and a better station.' When the gallant captain penned these comments, not very flattering to Quebec as a station during the wintci . :i(i + -VAA.V'.V .»/' ijUNItHC. or t«) tlic (.'ftiijulidii cliinatf f,'<'in'iiilly, lit' littU; tli(iu;^'lit svliiit a (;lmiig(> in his HfiitiinciitH would lie wrouglit liy tlif siilm('(jiieiit cxiiciifiKf of tlic Hocial at tra'jtioiis nt' liis (In iiilfd place of exile. Paitiii;; fidiii ('u|)taiii I'rinj^le at Ni'wfoitiMlland, Nelson sailed on a short crnise aloni; the American coast, in the course of which he tdok posses hion of an American lishinj,' Hchooiier, the Ihniiiiniii. Nathaniel ( 'mver, Mas- tei', whom he ordei'ed to come on iioard the .l/hiiiinr/r and act as pilot. The .Vmericaii nlieyed, lielievinj,' that his little vessel, in which all he had in the world was investeil, was irrecovorahly lost. lie disehar^'cd, withont a mnr- nnir, all the duties exacted from him. Nelson, noticing tlu; faithful manner in which he conducted himself, and ha\ ing learned that ( 'arver had a lai'ge family anxicaisly expecting his return liointi to New IMyniouth, summoned him to his presence and thus addre,s,sed him : ' Vou have remlered us, sir, a very essential service (in piloting the Alheinnilc. safely among the shoals and shallows of this coast), and it is not the custom of British seamen to be un- grateful. In the name, therefore, and with the approl)ation of tlie otiicers of this ship, I return your schooner, and give you, at the same time, a certificate (to serve as a pass and safeguard against subsecjuent capture), testifying to youi' faithful conduct. Farewell ! and may («od l)less you ! ' The Ameri- can, full of astonishment and gratitude, returned to his little vessel aiul pro- ceeded on his way homeward. After this incident, it happened that the Alhinitirle being near the har- bour of New Plymouth, Carver recog- nized it, and forthwith came oflP, at the risk of his life in a boat, with a j)re- sent of shee]), poultry, anil vegetables, for Captain Nelson ; aial most op])or- ume and valuable the present proved, for the scurvy was then raging among the shii>'s crew. Nelson compelled the donor, much against his will, to receive payment, and immediately caused the fresh meat and vegetables to be eipially shared among the sick on Iioard. In a l(!ttei' from I'.ic, in the St. T.aw. rence, to Captain Locker, dated the I nth ()ctoi»er, 17H-J, Nelson states that the .l//;''»/(0'/(' arrived 'here' on duly 1st; that Iu4 sailed on a cruise, and rrtiinii'il to (,)uel)ec on the 17th of Septeudiei', • knocked Up with the sciM'vy.' From these stalenmnts it woidd appear that Nelson paid at least two visits to t^ut^bec between July and September of the year named. Again, his biographers Clark*' and .McArthur, in page Tb, vol. i., of their ' Tiife of Nelson,' make use of the ex- pression, ' [n the coui'se uf thisr r<- prtiti.'f/ visits to (,|uel)ec, which seems to corroborate the inference just drawn from Nelson's own language. How- ever this may be, we have, on the same authority, a circumstantial account of his arrival in the hai-bour of (^>uebee on Septendier 17th, 17 s-' J, wlien landed the sick of his crew and .sent them to hospital, and of his departure on October Ilth of the same year. On this occasion, theiefore, his visit was one of about a month's duration, long enougli, we jiresume, to liavefurnisheil the opportunity of furminy acijuaint- ance with some of the then i-eigning /)f'l/l^•< of (Juel)ec Society, and of losing a susceptible heart. Having reviewed, as far as is re- (juisite for our present purpose, the professional career of Horatio Nelson antecedent to his visiting (Quebec in 17S2, we must next l)rieHy refer to his personal attributes at that period of his life, and to certain peculiarities of his character and disposition. The ])ortraits and statues of Nelson which were executed at later periods of his (.'ventfid life, or after his death, fail to convey correct ideas of the phy- sical pecidiarities which his personal ai)pearance presented when he was (piite a young man. The a.s])ect of his countenance was even gii'lish, and singularly attractive, while, in resjject of statiire and bulk, like his sub.se- (|uent great foe, Napoleon Bonai)arte, I i "Iff and alwal scorfl posit| the .jectsi a)ul • Tlil li.V Pril wards f .vear ni Nolsl Priiice'l tide, if Vork. I I XK/.SOA AT \> ft. II HI' '1{\% t. I.IVNV- tOtl til.' HllltCH eir' on crnisf', ITtlmt" ith tlic iH'UtS it 1 lit loftsl vn July niuiii''!. rk(! Hii'l , of their t" tin" ex- icli seems iistdviiwii y. Ho\^ 1 tU»' simif uroiiiit I't' fit" (^uolx'' wlion li"' and sent (lepartuve (• yetiv. On , visit was ation, lonv; et'uniislieil f acquaint - n reigning 1,1 ,)t' losin'^ ir uH is !••■- ,ur\)08t', tlif •iitio Nelson ; (Jnebec in ;Hy refer to that period peculiarities sition. es of Nelson liter periods ;er his death, IS of the phy- his personal •hen he was In- as])ect of u girlish, and ilf, in resjiect kf his snbsp- nn Bonaparte, ; III' was diminutive. In fact, iii^ up pearance wan that of a mere hoy, con- trastinj,' remarkiilily with tlic full laccil iinifoi 111 of a Ihilisli Xavnl ('aptuin. ' // //>(*»•'• IiIh Imir iiiipiiii'ili'inl^ (I nil /in/ lip hi'/li/ii/ ill II .yllfl //r.^.tiilii I, lit Itf I'.r- /niDrdiiiiiri/ li'injlli^ * aftt-r tlir <'iiHtom not uniiHiial in tlioHf days; 'und tlic old fa.sliioiicd Haps of his waistcoat added to tlic Ljcncral c|iiiiiiilncsH of Ids Hgure.' His ynit, and iiianncr of wcarini,' Iiis dress iiii|iarted to him soniewlial of an air of iicnlii,'ciice. Nevertheless, there rested on liisc(ain- teiiaiR'c a i,'i'ave and tlioui;litfnl e\ |iiession, anytliinj; luit yontlifiil or yirlish, and (piite in eliaiacter with the faet that \\v. had already seen iiiucli iK^tive and even danyeroiis service at sea, and that lie tlioroiiyhly under- stood every hranch of his profession. [n Ids leisure nionients he was al- ways thinking of inatlers aii[M'riiiininj,' to his voi'ation, and was acenstoincd to remark that 'a captain of a man- of-war, if he does his duty, will al- ways find sutHcient to occupy his mind, and to rend(!r service to his country, on any station, either in peace or war." He was particularly attentisc to the interests of young people with wlioni he came into contact, and al- though at first his personal peculiari- ties and the great professional reputa- tion he had already actpiireil, inspired them with shyness, this soon melted away under the genial intluciiceof his kindness of heart and his tact in deal- ing with them. Both in the Alhciiinrlt' and his next vessel the linrens, he had always under him from one to two score of middies and youngsters who positively adored him, amongst whom the more tinnd spirits were ever oh- Jects of special notice and attention, and whom he encouraged hy example ' Tliuso W(Ji(ls ari' uileil frnni a ilc-ciiiitinii yivcii by Priiu-i' William Henry, Duke uf Clareiiee, after- wards Kill}; Williiuii IV., ttlin tirst iiitt Nelsmi in the year of tlie laUt r's visit t(i (j'neijee. Nelson himself refers to tluit nieetiii;.', ami to the Prinee's sentiments, as expresseil later ou in this ar- ticle, in the letter to ('a|)tain l.oeker, ilateil New York. November ITtli, 17H2. to dare whatescr was i-alculated to confirm courage, though apparently dangerous, mid to feel that the attain iiieiit of n.iiitica! experience was a pleasure instead of a weariHome task. 'Well, sir.' he saiil to a y the shrouds, ' i ain goiiiu; a race to the mast-head, aii'l lieg I may meet you there,' a rcipiesi to which no deniiil could he given and when they met in the top, he spoke in the most cheerful teriii.s to the midshipman, ohserving how much a young ollicer was to lie pitied who could f.incy there was ,iny danger, or even anything disagreealile. in the .at- tempt. As an excuse for his piacliic of iilwavs taking with himso'iie of \\\> young people when invited to dine on shore with high otiicials and p«rsoii> of distinction, he was accustoiiiccl to to siy, ' I have taken the lilierty of cari'ving with me sonic of my niilis-iii rump. I will lie excused, for 1 make it a rule to introduce them to all the gooil company 1 can, as they have few to look up to, liesidcs myself, during the time they are at sea.' lie knew and practised all tlmt was due fi'om himself towards his Juniors, 'is well as his et|uals ;iud sujieriors ; and, during the whole course of his early career, liefore he attained the rank of caj' tain, he never ceaseil to reinemh r, oi to follow, the precepts which had lieen drawn up for his guidance, re- lative to his conduct and naval duties hy his uncle, ( 'aptain Maurice Suck- ling, with whom he tirst went to sea, and which commenced with the in- struction, ' My dear Horatio, [lay every respect to your superior otticers. as you shall wish to receive respect yourself.' It is, therefore, easy to apprehend the grounds upon which were htised the extraordinary esteem in which young Captain Nelson was held hy all who hail anything to do with him ; and Hlthough it is true that, tit that ))eriod of his life, he was freijuently taciturn — .seemini' to retire within I.'li^ff' l-llli' ■ f 266 NELSON AT QUEBEC. liinisolf when the energien of his mind were not called into exercise by some object of duty or professional interest — and that he often seejned to care l)Ut little for the I'etined courtesies of polished life, yet, ' when he wished to please, his aeniitr/e came in his barge alongside. He had on a full- laced uniform, but was the merest boy of a captain T had ever beheld. . His lank, unpowdered hair, and the general quaintness of his figiu'e, produced an appearance which particularly attracted my notice, for 1 had never seen anything like it before, nor could I imagine who he was or what he came about. My doubts were, however, removed when Lord Hood introduced me to him. ' There was something irresistibly- pleasing in liis address and conversa- tion ; and an enthusiasm, w'len speak- ing on professional subjects, that showed he was no common being. After this he went with us to the West Indies. Throughout the whole of the American War the height of Nelson's ambition was to command a line-of -battle ship; as for prize-money, it never entered his thoughts * Somi! coUateml test iniony be.ariiit; on the ques- ticiu wlietlier Nelson was or was not in the habit of frenueiitinj? tlie Cliien d'Or while sojouriiiniivison Hi Lees' as being noted for the exercise of hospitality toward Hritish naval oHicers whom the affairs of the [leriod of the Ame- rican revoluti.inary war, between 1775 and 1783, brought to l^ueliec Harbour as a place of rendezvous for ships of war and transports conveying troops and supplies. lie states that, although the younger otticers. both of tlic arin\ and navy, were constant visitors at the Chien d'Or, those of the rank of pnst- captaii), cKS of his mce which otice, for I e it before, he was or ^ly doubts when Lord n. irresistibly I conversa- y^en speak - •jects, that luon being, to the West t the whole le height of command a [)rize-money, ghts inp on the ques- )l in the habit of e aojourninj; at Alex. Vrquhart. out 80 years old), r was a conteni- (1 (to tlie age "f lar 1840, retaining Kptlier frequently lildrcn about the Jiicbcc during the ■ -mentioning the being noted for rd British naval eriod of the Ame- II ITTiJ and 1783, ilacc of rendezvous iveying troops and lugii the younger iivy, were constant if the ranl< of poat- uonif them, a.s this (ise times of strict (»n being a.sl, iir liy tlie I'rinee, j or nmre, in their ; entertaiinnent. %. I found him warmly attached to my fatlier, and .sinj^'ularly liuinane ; lie had the honour of the kiuif's service, iind the iud('})Ciidenc(> of the Britisli navy particulai'ly at heart ; and his mind glowed with this idea as imicli when he was simply captain {tit\u' .IIIx/ikh Ir, as wlien hi; was afterwards decorated with S(; much well-earned distinc- tion.'* A little later, a lady friend of Nel- son's future wife, in writing to her, expressed herself in these terms ; ' We have at last seen the little ca|)tain of whom so much has been said. He came u]) just liefore dinner, and was very silent, yet seemed to fhlii/,' the moi'e. He declined drinki" lUy wine, but after dinner, when, as usual, the toasts of the King, (^iieen, and Koyal family, and of Lord Hood were given, this strange man regidai-ly tilled his glass, and obsei-ved that those were always hx/npi-r foii.^fs with him, and then relapsed into his former taciturni- ty. During this visit it was impossi- l)le for any of us to make out his real character. There was siu^i a sternness and reserve in his biOiaviour, with oc- casional sallies, though transient, of a suj)evior mind. I endeavoured, being placed near him, to rouse his attention, showing him all the civilities in my {)0wer; but I drew out little inoie than yes and no. We think, Fanny, that if you had been there, some thing might have been made of him, since * It is worthy of mention that the close friendship wliicli begun wliile sTving tnnLtlior in the American waters ciintinued to subsist between Nelson and the Duke "f Cliueiice, endini,' (Hily with the death of the former in tlie Mattle of Trafalgar. In Nelsim's correspcmilence with his other |icrs(inal friends, he often make» Mention iif the Prince, ex- pressmg tiiniself very decitil)le heart. (^)iiel)ec has always heen noted foi'the hrilliant |>er- sonal attractions])()ssessedl)v itsdaiijfli- ters of both nationalities — for equally fair gii'ls of Hiitish orifjin have diviii rtere lirst cousins. Tho diitu of this iliar- riiijji; prccuded 1)\ ni'iii-l\ two years that of tho ad- vent of Nels.)n to (jhiel)iH'. We jfive the fojlowinif oxtiaets from the diary kept liy .Mr. Thompson, senior: • (,hieliec, Oec (itli, ITSO.- Atd in the aflernoou went to .Mrs I'rentii'e's, wliere I w i.s met hy my xood trjeiids, Cap! Twissand .Mr. ,lolin t'olhi'is, di whom I had lieyged their presenee. Dr. .MontinoHn was just eo.iie, an annals of the world. ))ii(jlif have ensued, appear from the sequel of tlie narrative from which we ((uote. ' When the Alhi'mar/c, on the 14th of October, was ready for sea, Cajitaiu Nelson had taken his leave, and had gone down the ri -!r to the place where the men-of-war usually anchored ; but the next morning, as ]\rr. Davison was walking on the beach, he .saw Nelson coming back in his boat. On his reaching the landing-place, the former anxiously demanded the cau.se that oc- casioned his friend's return; "Walk up to your liou.se," replied Nelson, "and you shall lie made acquainted with the cause.'' ifethen said, "I find it utterly impo.ssible to leave this place without again waiting on her whose society has so much added to its charms, and laying myself and my for tunes at her feet," Mr. Davison earnestly remonstrated with him on the consequences of so rash a step : "your utter ruin,"' said he, "situated as you are at present, must inevitably follow." "Then let it follow." ex- nil ''1 as| ofl I'f NELSON At' (QUEBEC. 2(!!» :t('u rt'- soii of ;i \\0, COtll- lifc: liis inu's (li^- ji'tion of ,lie most imals of ire litter- f> (Icvot- wiir, w:is ;hi' intin- (.. With ning :it attiiclnil irh'i Vii>< yxiilcil III conceivei 1 ous in its (!iu'e of it . ero of the liiivo lieen \,w\ that aiit in re- the world. • from the (1 whidi wo m the 1 4:tli ea, Capt'iiii re, antl had place whero .•hored ; Imt Davison was saw Nelson Lt. On his I, the former vuse that oc- rn; "Walk ied Nelson, acquaintetl en said, " f to leave this tin^ on her ti added to its f and my for- kir. Davison ,vith him on rash a step : le, "situated ist inevitably follow," ex- claimed Nelson ! " for I am resolved to do it."' The account goes on to state that a severe altercation ensued, hut that Mr. Davison's firmness at length pievailed with Nelson, who, though with no very good grace, re- linquished his ))urpose and suffered himself to be led back to his boat. From the Island of Bic, in the St. Lawrence, Nelson took charge of a large convoy for New \'ork. During the rest of the American War the ac- tive operations of the fleet, under Ad- miial Lord Hood, in the West Indies, kept Nelson's mind constantly em- ployed. New connections and new scenes of enterprise, if they did not efface those tender iuijiressions, un- doubtedly mitigated ami weakened them. After the peace he was ordered home, bnt was again soon despatched on active service to the West Lidies. On the occasion of this visit to Europi', he spent some time in London, and after having been ])resented at Court, where the King honoured him with particular notice, Nelson went to seek out his old friend jMr. Alex. Davison, of Ouebec, who had mnv removed* from Canada and established himself in the metropolis as a Navy agent. Their former intercourse had initiated a warm fi'iendship and intimate corres- pondence between the two, which endured tliroughout tin' remaining 'l'-\ years of Nelson's life. He found Da- vison resident at Lincoln's Inn, and went to dine witli him. In l>age SI of the biography already cited, this visit is recorded in the following words: 'On his arrival he inunedi- ately threw ofi" what he called " his iron-bound coat," and, having piojured a dre.ssing-gown, spent the evening in talking over the \arious occurrences that had taken place sinci' they last parted on the beach of the Kiver St. * 111 llie (i>iiel,tc Otuiltf lit' Ocdiljci- ;{l.-.t, ITSli, nu'Utioii is iiiiiili; of 11 ship iiuim;il tht; Tiadv, as ha\ - iii^ I'alleii diiwn tlui river tn Die, to join tlie i'onvo\ iisseinbled thuri', and boiiiul fur Loudon. Tlic list of passungcrt j^iven tontuins tlic nunn.' of Mr. Mt\. Davison. Lawrence." Innumerable letters of Nelson to Mr. Davison are extant. Davison was his agent in charge of his otlicial i)ay and prize money, his counselloi and the manager of his es tate, ami various private affairs, and fin - ally one of the jtrincipal executors of his last will and testament. < )n what- ever service emi)loyed. Nelson was in the habit of o])ening his heart to him in his letters. Down to nearly his last hofu's, when about to shed his blood for his king and country in the sanguinary battle of Trafalgar, Nelson found occasion to address a few afFec tionate line.s, interspersed with refer- ences to business, to his life-long friend, Alexander Davison. Doubtless, not so much the remembrance of former hospitalities at Oiiebec as the prudent and determined stand where! ly he successfully opposed Nelson's follow ing a cour.se of conduct which he con sidered ruinous at that time, had oper- ated permanently on the gallant sailors mind, atlbrding what he could never cease to I'eganI as a guarantee of sincei'e and un' inded per.sonal friendship. Thi.s .Mr. .\le.\andci Da- vison, while resident at (Quebec, hail been the head of a mercantile firm, 'Messrs. Davison iV Lees," carrviii" on liusuiess in the liower Town. Even befoie Nelson's visit to the ol city the.se gentlemen had maih; ar- I'angements for d's.solving partnership, as Mr. I)avison had decided on a re- moval to London ; and in the Quehec O'li-.i'ffr of Aug. L'r)th, I7S2, there was l)ublishe(l an advertisement by one Wm. Lang, intiiuiiting that he had b( - come jiurcha.sei- of ' tlie lot and house wherehi Messr.s. Davison .V Lees latch liveil, situate in Notre Dame St., anil bounded on one end by Thomas Avl- win, Ks(|., on the other by Mr. Lewis Lizot, and behind by Mr. J^owis Dii- siens,' and yiving notice ' to all pej' sons having claims thereon to notifv the same in writing before the lOtli of October next, when he is to com- plete the payment of the purchase money.' Some of the names here 270 NELSON AT QUEBKC. mentioned are still not unfamiliar at C^uel)f;c. Wt! have already stated in a foot- note that Mr. Da\ i.son departed for England, with a convoy from Bic, {)rior to October 3 1st, 1782 — about a fortnight after his memorable inter- view with Nelson on the beach at (Quebec. Reverting to Davison's own account of that interview, as recorded by Clarke and McAithur, it is noticeable that no mention is made of the name of the lady concerned. But it would have been in bad taste to have fur- nished it — unacceptable to herself and friends, and probably wounding to her feelings. The ordy good purpose which would have been served by so doing, that occurs to us, might have been to prevent the false suggestions and in- ferences already alluded to. There is nothing in the accouni. which, fairly considered, would justify a Ijelief that the object of Nelson's passionate admiration was not a })er- son of the highest respectability in Quebec Society. The expression used ' an amiable American lady,' signifies simply one belonging to this side of the Atlantic, although, if employed at present it would denote a citizen of the United States. The more significant points in the narrative, in view of her identifica- tion, are those which refer to Mr. Davi son's having bestowed on Nelson, at this time ' and long aftcrminls, inuu- inerabk acts of kiiiducss ; ' also, the statement that the lady was ' a/ter- u-anh iii'irried and resided in London,^ These, as we hoi)e to make clear, fur- nish us with the clue. That she was not one of Mrs. Pren- tice's nieces, celebrated for personal attractions at Quebec in those days, is apparent from what has been already given in this paper. These young ladies could not have been justly styled ' American,^ since both had been im- ported not long before from Ireland by their aunt, who had no children of her own. Moreover, they both uiar- ried and settled down in this country previously to Nelson's visit -one the wife of Mr. Lachlan Smith, the other of Mr. James Tliom[)son ; nor did either of them, as is well known, ever cross the Atlantic again, as must have been the case to accord with the inti- I mation ' n'lu) was (iftenoards m'H'i'ied i and i'i*siikd in London.' We now proceed to the actual iden- tification of the lady. At the sieges of Louisbourg, in 1758 and Quebec in 1 759, there were with Wolfe, two volunt(.'ers — Mr. James Thompson and Mr. James Simp.'fou — attached to the celebrated corps of Fraser Highlanders. They had joined it for service in America with the , hope, which they had been encouraged to entertain, of being advanced to a commission on the occurrence of va- cancies. They were first cousins, and during tin; wiiole period of their sub- secjuent lives maintained a close inti- macy. Both remained at Quebec af- ter the confpiest, when the troops were disbanded, and both were mar- ried ; but Mr. Thompson having be- come a widower, he selected as his second wife the I'lder of Mrs. Prenti- ce's nieces. This marriage, which took place in the year 1780, was cele- brated by the Hev. Mr. Dumoulin, ; chaplain of the troops, in the presence of a small but select company, amongst whom were Thompson's j)articular friends, C a plain Twiss, of the Royal I Engineers, Mr. John Col/ins, Deputy ' Surveyor-General ; his cousin, Mr. James Simpson, and the Prentices. It is recorded in Mr. Thompson's journal j of that date that the wife of his cou- sin Simpson disapproved of the match. She was therefore not present on the ! occasion, the alleged reason being ' a : coolness ' which subsisted between her and Mrs. Prentice. Previously to his marriage, Mr. Thompson, whose business quarters were in the Bishop's Palace, on the ; site where the Local Parliament ; Buildings now stand, had resided, or livec vivii him tenti dayf Siml the it liii ~M or bead yeaJ oth inar- (rouiitrv -Dill! the ;lie other nor lUd )\vii, ever lUHt have the iuti- ,s iifiirii'il tiuil iden- g, in 1758 ivere with Jfi/nes ")V//t/.wou — corps of lad joined with the sncouraged iiiced to a uce of va- ausins, and their sub- close inti- L^uebec af- the troops were mar- having be- lted as his [rs. Prenti- \ae, which 0, was cele- Dunioulin, he presence iiy, amongst particular the Royal ins, Deputy ousln, Mr. 'rentices. It iou's journal I of his cou- »f the match, esent on the on being ' a between her irriage, Mr. 3.SS quarters hice, on the Parliament d resided, or NELSON AT QUKIiEC. 271 boarded, at his cousin's liouse, and was intimately conversant with all the affairs of the Simpson family. Kis cousin and wife consulted him on all occasions, and their children looked up to liim with entiic confidence and filial affection. Later, when Mr. Thompson'.s numerous children In'gan to grow up, the most afft'ctionate in- tercourse subsisted between them ami the young Simpsons. These facts are here stated V)ecau.se, tliough common- place in themselves, they have an im- [)ortant bearing upon the ([uestion under consideration. It should be observed, further, that Mr. Thompson's youngest son was born in 178S ; lie was named George, and, at about the age of sixteen, was sent to the Koyal Academy at Wool- wich as a cadet. Mr. James Thompson was a man of great worth, and exti-emely respected on account of his sterling integrity of character and his sagacity. He lived to be 98 years old, and during his protracted life was the recipient of many favours and of much ])articular attention from every successive Gover- nor that ruled in Canada, from the times of General Murray down to the days of Earls Dalhousie and Aylmer. One of las brothers was an officer (adjutant) in the 1st Regiment, or Royal Scots, and afterwards held a commission in the -list Regiment. Of Mr. Thompson's sons, one was Judge of the District of Gaspe, and two others. Deputy Commissary-Generals. His great age, and the fact that he lived to be (in Canada) the last sur- viving veteran of Wolfe's army, made him always a conspicuous object of at- tention at Quebec down to the last day of his life. Reverting to his cousin, Mr. James Simpson, who did not attain to nearly the same great age as INIr. Thompson, it happened that one of his daughters — Miss Mary Simpson, born in 1766 or 17 07 — was a girl of marvellous beauty. She was scarcely sixteen years old at the date of Captain Nel- son's visit to Quebec, in Sejitember, 1782. One of Mr. Thonij)Son's daugh- ters* was in tint habit of I'emarking, in the hearing of her children, that, 'if Mary Simp.son was not the most beautiful girl in Quebec, she was, at any rate, the most liand.some she had ever beheld.' Sht; looked older than she really was. Her jjarents hail secured for her the best education that was obtainable at Quebec. Mr. James Thompson, Junr., who died in the year iSli'.t^ makes mention of her in his diary as ' Miss Mary Simpson, the highly accomplisheil daughter of my father's first cousin, Mr. James Simpson.' This was the young lady with whose personal and mental charms Captain Nelson, of the Albciiiur/e, became in- fatuated, hi 1782. They met in Que- bec society, more particularly under the hospitable roof of Nelson's mer- cantile friend, Mr. Alexander Davi- son, and probably, before his depar- ture, at the house of her father. Whe- ther or not Nelson's attentions were favoured by her parents nowhere ap- pears on record ; but it is certain tliat he made an impression on her heart and feelings, as will be shown pre- sently. It is not likely, from all that is now known concerning this lady, that Davison had opposed Nelson's intentions, with respect to her, owing, as has been rashly suggested, to ap- I)rehensions on the part of Davison that the marriage with her would be- a nifSdUiaiicti — ^a derogatory connec- tion of a superior with an inferior. It is far more probable that the mo- tive was to hinde:- Nelson from assum- ing resjionsibilities which, at that time, he was wholly unprepared for — which would have entailed the abandonment of his professional pur- suits and prospects, then so fair, and, in his own words, would have pro- • Mm, Harrower, mother of Mr. .Jaiin-s T. ffar- ruwer, now oin|iluyeil in the I-ooiiI'l'iL-aMirv iJepiiVt- ineiit, the uwnur of the eelebrated Stt(jra Of Mcnit- ijomery and eustodiaii of the Thoiiiiison family records, diaries, luid correspondence. '27-2 NKLfioN AT QULHEV. utter ruin in liis present Had Nelson, on landing (luced his situation.' from his lioat, on that occasion, ac- complished his ardent wishes, married the lady, and settled down in Quebec, his conduct would have amounted to desertion from the service, which, should his passion for nautical life have sul)se()uently revived, wotdd have ))laced an almost insurmountable (»l)stacl(^ between him and future em- ployment in the British navy. That Nelson had made a deep im- pression upon her heart may be in- terred from several particul.i, ». At that time Sir Fiederick HaMimand was (!ov(M-nor at (Quebec. His secre- tary and aid-de-camp. Major Mat- thews, was also a suitor for this lady's hand. After Nelson's departure, this olhcer renewed his attentions and pressed her to marry him. But she refused. Having been sought by a Post-( 'ai>tain of the Eoyal Navy, she couhl not, she said, ' ///////,■ if Kcopfin// 111(1/ iine hdiiiKjiiKj til fill' lOiiiij ii'hosr mill /'Yf,s /uurr t/iuii tliiff of Colour/.' Shortly afterwards fJovernor Hal- (liniand went home, accouii)anied l)y Major Matthews. In process of time the latter V)ecame a colonel, and was appointed (lOvernor of Chelsea Hos- pital. Some years had elapsed, and Miss Simpson had attained the age of ■_'(( or ■_'? years, remaining still un- married. This fact being ascertained \>y Colonel Matthews, he again re- newed his suit, and was finally ac- cepted : and theyliecame engaged. Mr. James Thompson, Jun., fur- nishes the following particulars : — - Colonel Matthews' ai)pointment in t he Horse Guards not admitting of his return to Canada, to fulfil his en- •'agements to Miss Simpson, she went to join him, and they were married in London, from whence she, as well as the colonel, maintained a close cor- respondence ; the former, indeed, looked upon my father (Mr. James Thompson, Sen.) in the light of a \ iiirent. ' This then— Miss Mary Simpson — so far as we have yet proceeded with our evidence —was the young lady who.se descrij)tion tallies with theword.") of Nelson's biographers in connection with the incid(uit that occurred on the beach at Quebec, ' an amiable Amer- ican lady, who wan aftnwanls marrml ami refilled in London.' We have before us a number of let- ters,'^ written by ( 'ol. and Mrs. Mat- thews. Her letters manifest the ut- most kindness of heart, good sense, and mental cultivation. When Mr. Thompson's youngest son George was of age to {trotit by an admission into the Koyal Academy of Woolwich, and knowing that it had always been the old man's earnest hope to j)rocure it for one of his family, the Colonel made personal application to the great ministle lady . . .' adding further on, ' / Ikuh' not the least rccul- lection, of Mrs. Matlhcws ' The ai)par ent forgetfulness arose, no doubt, from the circumstance that nine or ten years had elapsed between the time of Miss Simpson's departure from Que- - V 274 NKLS^ON AT QUKIiKC. Iiec, to. join Colonel ^lattlitjws in Eiiff- land, unil tliut of youny Ciooi-gc when lie was about 1.") years old. The lt!nj,'th to which this ai'tiole has already exLendcd ]ir(>clud»'s oiii- ad- verting,' to lujiny inoiilents noticed in the course of the corres))OMdence, and nuidiny to remove from the sphere of mere hypothesis the identification of Mrs. INIattiiews as lieing tlie very per- son who, in early life, had mad(^ so strong an impression on the heart of NiOson. We therefore ))ass on to what is, perhap.s, the most im))ortant link in the chain of evidence — we ought, perhaps, rather to say the crowning testimony. Tiie decisive l)attl(i of Trafalgar, fought by the Spanish and Fi'ench fleets on one side, and that eommund- ed by Admiral Nelson on the other, occurred on the 20th of October, ISO.'). It was a bloody conllict, which cost Entrland deal in the loss of tli( must allow her.self, as it were, to speak. Her letter on the subject is dated January 9th, 1 HOG, and we give the following extract from it verba- tim : '. . . He ((JeorgeTlunupson) has gone to witness the mournful spectacle of our deej)ly lamented hero, Lord Nelson's funeral. My M. (Mat- thews) procured a place for him in the window of a liouse at Charing Cross. The press of danger will be great, and the erowvar, when, Nel .oil's name lieiiiif hrouiflit up, the Karl re- Tu.irkid that .Mr. I.eMoiue, author oi the '.Maple Leaves,' .\lliuiii du 'I'oiiriste, ie , was ahle to afford them .some iiiforiiiatioii ahoiit him, as he had puh- lislieil soinethinj,' oil tlie .suhjeet .\lr. I.eMuine liappened to he present, and, at His Kxeellciiey's reip'est, rehearsed the Hhule of what he had related in tlie works cited aliove, iniicli to the satisfai'lioii of his hearers Mr I.e.Moine'.s aeeoimt of iheafftir, however, as it is liased on the now exploded